A man found guilty of murdering a promising graduate has been jailed for life whilst his East Finchley accomplice was sentenced to eight years.

Haaris Rana, 22, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years for the murder of promising graduate Seyyed Rast Mir-Feyzi. Picture: MET POLICE

Haaris Rana, 22, of Stainby Close, West Drayton, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years for the murder of promising graduate Seyyed Rast Mir-Feyzi.

Yasir Ibrahim, also 22, of Maddison Close, East Finchley, was sentenced to eight years for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

Speaking before sentencing, Mr Mir-Feyzi, Seyyed’s father, said: “Since my son’s death, the man responsible for his murder has also killed my family and me too. I feel like I have lost a part of my body. Knowing that he can never come back has left me and my wife broken. It is terrible that his life was cut short in such an unnecessary way. He had a future, he wanted to join the Royal Navy or the police. He had plans; he had an amazing life; he was loved and I know he would have gone on to do great things.”

Both men were found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday, February 9. They were sentenced at the same court earlier today.

Yasir Ibrahim, also 22, of Maddison Close, East Finchley, was sentenced to eight years for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. Picture: MET POLICE

During the trial the jury heard how Mr Mir-Feyzi was set upon by a gang in the car park of the Great North Leisure Park off Finchley High Road. Moments later a white BMW mowed him down before Rana and Ibrahim jumped out and fled in the direction of Finchley High Road.

Police, paramedics and London Air Ambulance raced to the scene following the incident on May 31 last year. Seyyed was flown to an east London hospital, but pronounced dead the next day. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as catastrophic head injury.

Speaking after sentencing, Det Ch Insp Gary Holmes said: “This was a violent attack with tragic consequences which has had a devastating impact on Mr Mir-Feyzi’s family.

“Today’s sentencing shows that brutal and vicious attacks like this have strong repercussions and that the full force of the law will be handed down to those that commit these acts.

“It’s likely that Rana, who has a brain condition, will spend the rest of his life behind bars. I hope this brings some sort of justice to Mr Mir-Feyzi’s family,” he added.

Seyyed, of North Finchley, had just finished a degree in computer security at Westminster University before his death.